The Masters loaded Luna’s unconscious body into the academy's carriage.

“I want to come with you,” Tristan said as he tried to climb into the carriage.

Headmaster Aurelian laid a wrinkled hand on Tristan’s shoulder and shook his head slowly.

“You are not to leave the academy grounds, Mr. Bell,” he said.

“But!” began Tristan.

“No buts. The academy's dome shields you from the dragon's eyes but with all that is going on in Umbra right now, it would be wise to stay put.”

Aurelian tapped the roof of the carriage and the driver pulled out of the courtyard and headed down the hill to the Temple of Belladeon.

***

Tristan stalked the academy grounds. Something was bothering him. He couldn't shake the feeling that the box of chocolates were no coincidence. He eventually found the person he’d been looking for sitting in the common room in front of the fireplace looking like he didn't have a care in the world.

“I know it was you,” Tristan said as he walked up to Ambrose and punched him in the face.

The move didn't have the effect he’d hoped for. Tristan's knuckles collided with solid steel and he heard his knuckles crack.

He clenched his fist fighting down the pain he felt. He couldn't look weak in front of Ambrose. He took a deep breath and met Ambrose’s stunned looking eyes.

“Have you gone mad?” asked Ambrose. “You really shouldn’t have done that, are you ok?”

Tristan’s hand ached but he refused to acknowledge the pain.

Ambrose must have sent the chocolates. He knew Luna’s jinn wouldn't allow her to eat it. It was the only possibility he could think of. Luna had been possessed because the terms of her contract with her jinn had been broken when she ate meat. But somebody else must have known about that and the only person he could think of with a motive was Ambrose.

“Is Luna in danger?” Ambrose asked, his face a mask of confusion.

“Don't play dumb with me,” said Tristan. “You liked Luna and when she rejected you, you got your revenge.”

Ambrose stood up looking undignified. “That doesn't even make sense. I would never hurt Luna.”

“You had more than one motive,” said Tristan. “We are facing you in the finals and you couldn't resist taking out the competition.”

Tristan looked him in the eye. Either Amborse was a great actor or he was generally confused.

“It really wasn't me,” said Ambrose. “Is she going to be ok?”

Tristan shook his head. His shoulders slumped and he sat down on a couch.

“What happened?” Ambrose asked, but Tristan ignored his words.

He looked around the room desperately seeking someone he could blame.

Footsteps sounded down the hallway and moments later Jayce arrived.

“There you are, hoa,” he said. “I heard what happened. I've been looking for you all over the place.”

He looked around at the stunned faces in the room.

“We need to go,” he said.

Tristan nodded numbly. He realized why he had been so adamant that somebody was to blame. Because if it wasn't someone else’s fault, then it was his. His scams had led to this.

Jayce reached out a hand to Tristan. “Come, hoa. This is not the time to fall apart. Luna needs us right now.”

***

Sleet had begun to fall as Tristan and Jayce made their way through town to the temple. They walked in silence. Tristan didn't want to talk about it. He opened and closed his hand and felt the bones resetting themselves. Already the pain was beginning to fade. Master Wraithen had been right when he’d said that Tristan’s healing was his greatest weakness. It had made him over confident.

The three friends had managed to get through so much together over the last few months that Tristan had started to believe that nothing could harm them anymore. He was wrong and it was Luna who would have to pay for his mistake.

***

They arrived at the temple and Tristan wasted no time. He pushed open the heavy doors and marched into the temple. A monk dressed in brown robes shouted at him but Tristan ignored the man. The monk cursed under his breath then ran to fetch a towel to clean the dirt that Tristan trailed into the temple.

Tristan reached the medical ward where he had seen the injured Magi before.

“Wait!” the monk shouted as he caught up with them. “If you want your friend to live, then wait.”

Tristan stopped in his tracks and rounded on the man. “What do you mean?”

The monk finished cleaning around them then picked up his towel and indicated that they should take off their shoes. Jayce quickly obeyed but Tristan continued to stare at the man.

“Why can't I see Luna?” he asked.

The monk took Jayces shoes from him then glared at Tristan.

“The Cursebreakers are with her now,” he said in a not so friendly voice. “If the ritual is interrupted it could kill her.”

“How long?” asked Tristan.

The man gestured at his shoes. Tristan clenched his jaws in frustration then seeing that the man had made up his mind. He took off his boots and handed them to the monk.

“Good,” said the man. “You will know that the ritual is over when the music stops.”

Tristan hadn't even noticed the sound of chanting coming from the medical ward until that monk had said it.

“Take a seat,” said the monk. “It could take some time. The jinn has possessed her body and soul. It will take time.”

“Can they fix her?” Jayce asked.

“They will try,” said the monk. “If the Cleric was here then maybe your friend's chances would be better but she is still on her year-long pilgrimage and will not return for some time. The Paladin has been called but his gifts are not in healing.”

“Then why call him?” asked Jayce.

“The Paladin is the right hand of the goddess,” said the monk. “He is tasked with protecting Belladeon’s flock. If something were to happen to your friend and she were to lose control, the Paladin would be needed.”

“He’d kill her?” asked Jayce.

“If it came to that,” said the monk.

Tristan's heart continued to beat furiously in his chest. Even the gentle sounds of wind chimes and running water did nothing to soothe his fears. The Paladin would kill Luna if she lost control. He had met the man before and felt the power radiating from him. Tristan knew that he was no match for that kind of power.

Jayce paced up and down. He was never very good at waiting. Tristan kneeled outside the door and did something he had never done before.

“Please,” he prayed. “Whatever god is out there, if you are real, if you can hear me. Please help Luna. The world needs her, I need her.”

Tristan stayed on his knees for hours. Sweat ran down his forehead and mixed with his tears. He’d been abandoned so many times before. He’d been alone and now when he’d finally made friends and found someone to love they were being taken from him.

“Do you hear that?” asked Jayce.

Tristan looked up at his friend with bleary eyes.

“The music has stopped,” said Jayce. “The Cursebreakers are finished.”

The door opened and a tattooed man stood in the entrance. The man clutched a chain full of silver charms. The man looked like he'd run a marathon. He took one step outside and two monks caught him before he fell.

“We have done all we can,” said the man.

“Is she free?” asked Tristan.

The man shook his head slowly as the two monks held him up. “Her mind is still imprisoned by the jinn… but her body is protected. For now she sleeps.”

“For how long?” asked Jayce.

“There is no how long,” said the man. “She sleeps, that is all.”

Tristan and Jayce entered the dimly lit medical ward. Rows of empty beds filled the room and in the corner of the room beside a bed sat an old woman with a purple veil over her face. She looked up as the two entered the room.

A gold light shone from the bed and as Tristan drew nearer he saw a golden dome over Luna’s chest.

“What is that for?” he asked.

“It slows the process,” said the old woman.

“Are you a Cursebreaker?” he asked.

The woman tilted her head fractionally.

“What has happened to your friend is not a curse,” said the woman. “There is no curse to break, no evil to extract. This is what comes of you magi dabbling with things you know nothing about.”

“Can't you cast out the jinn?” Tristan asked.

The woman looked down at Luna and Tristan saw the pain in the woman’s eyes. She shook her head. “The two beings are entwined so deeply that one can not be extracted without harming the other,” she said.

“What happened to the other magi that were here?” asked Jayce. “Were they healed?”

Tristan looked around and realized that all the beds were empty.

“What happened to them?” he asked.

The Cursebreaker shifted uncomfortably. “They vanished,” she said.

“How?” asked Tristan. “They couldn't move from their beds when I saw them last.”

“Something happened to them,” said the woman. “They changed. They spoke constantly of someone that was calling to them. We drugged them each night so they could not move the tiniest of muscles but something came for them in the dead of night. Whatever it was, it did not want to be discovered.”

“How do you know?” asked Tristan.

The woman stood up and walked over to a curtain hanging on the far wall. “Our doors are sanctified,” she said. “No evil can pass through them but last night every monk in this temple had the same dream. Blue eyes watching them.”

The woman pulled the curtain back revealing a hole in the wall. It looked like something massive had clawed its way through.

“Something evil came in the night and took them,” she said. The woman looked back at Luna. “She must be saved before it comes for her.”

Tristan walked over to Luna's bed and sat down beside her. The golden dome hummed gently and light spilled from it illuminating Luna’s pale face.

Tristan reached out to her with his hand and also with his magic.

He felt something resist his probe.

“What are you doing?” asked the Cursebreaker.

Tristan ignored her and concentrated on passing Luna’s defenses.

He didn't want to break through her mind, he wanted to slip through the cracks and not hurt her in the process. He wasn't sure what he was doing but he’d done it once before and he knew he could do it again.

He pressed harder into her mind and a presence inside of Luna pushed back at him. A jolt of energy slammed into his mind and he reeled from the pain.

The room spun. He looked up at the roof and saw something small swirling above his head. He heard something then, a sound like a thousand musical notes intertwining. A feather descended from the rood. It drifted down slowly and landed on Luna's cheek. Tristan brushed it away and as his hand caressed her skin the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.

***

Hundreds of pinpricks appeared all around him in the darkness.

“What's happening,” he shouted. He reached below him expecting his hand to touch the bed but nothing was there.

The pinpricks of light opened up revealing hundreds of glowing balls hovering around him like a cloud of dandelions.

He swirled his arms and the balls of light scattered like they were blown on the wind.

The air changed. His nostrils filled with the aroma of decomposing leaves, spicy pollen and rich earth. He was in a forest. A familiar one.

The hair raised on the back of his neck as he sensed eyes watching him.

“Luna,” he called out. His voice disappeared into the dark and ancient forest.

A wolf howled in response.

Twigs and leaves crunched under foot as Tristan headed in the direction of the wolves call. He walked in silence taking deliberate care not to damage anything in the forest as he journeyed deeper in.

From the corner of his eye he saw the faint shapes of wolves padding alongside him. Each time he tried to look directly at them they slipped back into the shadows of the forest. The forest changed. Ash fell from the sky. Black grass crunched under foot and charred leafless trees that looked like twisted sculptures spread out in front of him as far as his eye could see. A white hill appeared in the distance. Tristan looked back and saw rows of silver wolves standing on the border of living and dead forest, watching him.

Tristan walked on heading towards the hill. As he drew nearer he heard a low growl that shook the earth. A part of the white hill moved and Tristan realized the moving part was the tail of a giant wolf. The wolf bared its teeth as Tristan approached. Each tooth was the size of a tree. A figure, that he knew must be Luna, slept against the side of the wolf. The wolf's tails curled around the sleeping girl and its large silver eyes watched Tristan drawing nearer.

“You’re brave or really stupid,” a voice said behind Tristan.

He twisted around and saw the hooded man standing a short distance away.

“Are you the jinn?” Tristan asked.

“No,” said the man. “I am Luna’s guardian.” He pointed at the wolf. “The spirit of the forest of Alhadria, that is her jinn.”

“Can you help her?” Tristan asked.

The man took a step towards Tristan and immediately appeared beside him. “I am only here in a dream,” said the man. “Her parents asked me to keep an eye on her but there is nothing I can do now. The forest spirit is not evil but it is not good either. It has its own desires and as long as you are fulfilling the contract then they are appeased. Luna has broken her contract.”

“But she was tricked,” said Tristan. “She was just a child, she didn't know what she was agreeing to.”

The old man rested a hand on Tristan's shoulder but the hand seemed to pass through his body.

“You said the jinn has its own desires,” said Tristan. “What does it want?”

“To never die,” said the man. “Her forest was slowly being destroyed by nearby cities. She didn't want to die. She made a contract to move her forest into Luna’s dreams. The spirit was content with that but something has changed. The god of the jinns has risen.”

“Malice,” said Tristan.

The man nodded. “The dragon has called back all of his followers but to return the jinns must possess their hosts.”

“So they obey the dragon?” asked Tristan.

“He is their god,” said the old man.

Tristan stepped away from the man and towards the wolf.

The wolf growl grew fiercer with each step Tristan took towards Luna.

“I hope you know what you are doing,” said the old man.

Tristan kept walking. He had an idea. He hoped he was right. He pulled up his sleeve and the blue symbols glowed on his arm. The wolf bared its teeth.

“Luna has given you half of her life,” Tristan said to the wolf. “What has Malice given you? Where was he when your forest was burnt down? I know Luna, which means I know you. You don't allow Luna to eat meat because you love every creature. You gave Luna power to heal so none would suffer. You are the mother of this realm, protecting her children.”

Tristan reached the wolf and stared long into its silver eyes.

Every instinct he had wanted to run. The wolf could crush him with barely a second thought. Tristan placed his hand on the wolf's fur.

“Take me if you want,” he said. “But save Luna.”

The wolf opened its mouth and Tristan felt warm breath washing over him. A wet tongue licked his whole body and Tristan fell backwards.

The wolf’s tail released Luna and golden lights appeared around her and lifted her into the air.

Tristan stepped back.

Luna landed lightly on her feet. Her eyes opened and the wolf leant forwards. She wrapped her arms around the wolf and held it close. A minute passed and Luna released the wolf and walked towards him. She placed her hands on Tristan’s shoulders and looked deep into his eyes. As their gazes met he saw a sparkle in her eyes. Then she leaned forward and her lips touched his, light as a butterfly's wings and amazingly soft to the touch.

The sound of someone clearing their throat pulled Tristan away from Luna’s embrace.

Luna flushed and stepped beside Tristan and held his hand.

“You look just like your mother,” said the old man.

“Who are you?” Luna asked.

“My name is Gunner Blaike,” said the man. “Your parents asked that if anything happened to them that I would keep an eye out for you.”

“You knew my parents?” asked Luna.

The man nodded. “I am your mother’s brother. I was on the front lines with your parents fighting the war against the Forbidden and the Revenants of Shalegos. Your mother got pregnant and your parents left to find a home to raise you.”

The old man stopped speaking and cleared his throat. “They couldn't settle anywhere the Forbidden were tracking them. Your father wrote to me and told me that they had found somewhere safe. A few years later I heard the news. They had been found and killed. I am a dreamer. I could not leave the war in Shalegos but I searched for you in my dreams. I found you when you were twelve. By then you had already contracted a jinn. You never dreamt so I could never get a message to you or find out where you were. But I kept coming back making sure you were well and hoping that I would be able to reach you.”

“Thank you,” said Luna. “I never imagined that I might still have family living.”

The old man shimmered and disappeared. A second later he reappeared but his face looked worried.

“What’s happening?” asked Luna.

“The Forbidden are attacking,” said the man. “Come to Ralo to the Towers of Sunrise, I have something I must show you.”

The man shimmered again then disappeared.

“We should leave this place,” said Luna. She kissed Tristan on the cheek and he felt something lurch inside of him. He looked down at where his hands should have been and looked straight through them.

***

Tristan came too inside the medical ward. He was lying on the ground and when he opened his eyes he looked up at a man wearing golden armor.

“Paladin,” Tristan murmured as he slowly rose to his feet. His head spun and the light hurt his eyes but he managed to keep himself from falling over.

Jayce entered the room a few moments later trailed by a monk dressed in a golden robe.

The monk bowed to the Paladin then stopped beside Luna’s bed.

“Tristan,” Luna called out in a weak trembling voice.

“I'm here,” said Tristan. He bent down over the bed and looked into Luna’s wide eyes. Her hand reached out to him.

A few seconds passed as Tristan looked deeply into her eyes and felt the warmth of her hand in his own.

The monk rested a hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “We must attend to the girl,” he said in a solemn voice.

Tristan squeezed Luna’s hand a final time then pulled away from her.

The Paladin eyed Tristan with a look of anger or confusion on his face.

“I remember you young man,” he finally said. “The cursebreaker swore that Belladeon’s blessing responded to your call? How is this possible?”

“I'm just a student at the academy. I asked to see the library the last time I was here,” said Tristan.

The Paladin nodded slowly as he continued to study Tristan.

“If Belladeon finds you fit for her blessings then who am I to get in your way,” said the man. “Let the monks attend to the girl in private. In the meantime I will show you to the Great Library.”

***

Tristan followed the Paladin out of the medical ward and passed the monks guarding the inner sanctum. The monks bowed to the Paladin and gave Tristan curious looks but said nothing to him.

Tristan lagged behind as he studied a mural of naked gods and goddesses painted on the ceiling of the inner sanctum.

Tristan had heard that the Paladin was the sword of the goddess but he wondered what need did a god have for a mortal weapon.

“What does the Paladin do?” he asked.

The man stopped in front of an ancient set of doors and waited for Tristan to catch up to him.

“The Paladin stands between the shadow and the light. The first Paladin ended the arch demon lord's thousand year reign of Umbra.”

The Paladin opened the doors and Tristan stepped into the room.

“We don’t let just anyone in here,” said the Paladin.

“,” said Tristan. “You are not coming in with me?”

“No, in the light of all that has transpired these last few days I have much work to do.”

The Paladin waited in the doorway. “Tempest academy has its own extensive library but it is under the dominion of the king,” he said after a long thoughtful pause. “The king has redacted information on secret arts, and on Malice and the hero. I don't sense a hunger for power in you, young man. What is it that you are seeking?”

“Just some information,” said Tristan.

“We are all entitled to our secrets,” said the Paladin. “But beware, secrets have a way of imprisoning those that attempt to keep them.”

***

The Paladin shut the door and left Tristan all alone inside the Great library of Belladeon.

The floorboards creaked as Tristan stepped forward, admiring the art and books illuminated by a crackling fireplace. A fire so close to such ancient tomes seemed bazaar but as Tristan drew nearer to the books he realized that each book was enveloped a shroud of protective magic.

There were ancient documents here, important cultural and historical works but Tristan had no interest in those he was after one thing only the history of Malice and the hero.

It took him over an hour before he found what he was looking for. A thin dusty book called the Tenebris Codex contained the history of the fabled city of London. It outlined the great battle between light and dark that was fought in its streets and the magic that had been unleashed in that battle. The combination of life and death magic had turned the whole continents of Shalegos’s population into the undead known as revenants. Tristan paused as he studied a drawing of the hero. The man wielded a sword of light that parted the heavens and cut the city in two. Tristan sat down beside the fireplace and continued to read the book. It contained a lot of information that Tristan had already read in Tempest’s libraries. Malice being the youngest of the three arch demon lord's, known as the Dark Primals. It also mentioned that the first Paladin was named after Belladeon the goddess of light.

Tristan put down the book and stared into the crackling fire.

He thought about everything he knew about the hero. From what he’d read and heard the hero had white hair and looked like Tristan.

From the books and foods he’d seen in the marketplace he’d also discovered that the hero was from earth and from the same time as Tristan.

From the book and what the Paladin had said it was clear that the first Paladin and the hero were the same person.

The final clue was the heros name. He was named after Belladeon the goddess of light. Tristan’s surname was Bell.

Pieces fell into place in Tristan’s head.

“My father was the hero.”